Hyperlink 3

Hyperlink 3 establishes the first connection to the Danish hydrogen network and facilitates the import of green hydrogen produced in Denmark. As part of the German-Danish project Northlink H2, together with the DHB1 project of the Danish transmission system operator Energinet, Hyperlink 3 forms a key building block of the future north-west European hydrogen market. The infrastructure required for this is being planned and built in close cooperation between both partners and connects the German industrial regions of Stade and Brunsbüttel with future hydrogen production sites in Denmark. At the same time, Hyperlink 3 connects the German hydrogen core network to important import and storage facilities as well as consumers in northern Germany.

Hyperlink 3 runs from Achim, south-west of Bremen, via Stade and Schleswig-Holstein to the German-Danish border crossing point at Ellund. It provides access to Storengy’s SaltHy hydrogen storage facility in Harsefeld and lays the groundwork for connecting further hydrogen storage facilities in northern Germany. By joining up with other Hyperlink sections, hydrogen volumes can be transported towards Hamburg, Bremen, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia and the Netherlands, among other destinations. As part of the hydrogen core network, Hyperlink 3 also enables onward transport to consumers in other parts of Germany.

Hyperlink 3 will be developed in three stages in line with market ramp-up. Hyperlink 3a will initially connect the Stade region to the hydrogen core network. This will be followed by Hyperlink 3b, which will connect the Brunsbüttel industrial site, including its port, import and electrolysis projects. Finally, Hyperlink 3c will establish the cross-border connection to Denmark, creating the first continuous hydrogen transport connection between the two countries. The first sections in Stade are scheduled to go into operation at the end of 2028; the full connection to Ellund is planned by the end of 2030.

Hyperlink 3 will largely be implemented by converting existing natural gas pipelines for the transport of hydrogen. Where necessary, these will be supplemented by new-build sections. Specifically, this applies to the energy transport pipeline ETL 189, which closes such a gap in Schleswig-Holstein. Construction of the approximately 24-kilometre pipeline is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2028, with completion planned for early 2029.

In addition to importing renewable hydrogen from Denmark, Hyperlink 3 will also enable future hydrogen imports via the ports of Stade and Brunsbüttel (via the BBNG pipeline “Brunsbüttel - Klein Offenseth”). This will create a high-performance transport corridor connecting production sites, storage facilities, import terminals and industrial consumers – thereby supporting the ramp-up of the hydrogen market in Germany and Europe. The infrastructure is designed so that transport capacity can be gradually expanded in line with market growth to up to 4.3 GW at the Ellund border crossing point.